William Shaw Fairhurst (1 October 1902 – 27 February 1979) was an English professional footballer who played as a left back. He played over 150 matches in the Football League. His brother, David, played for England and Newcastle United.

Billy Fairhurst
Billy in Middlesbrough kit c.1926-28
Personal information
Full name William Shaw Fairhurst
Date of birth (1902-10-01)1 October 1902
Place of birth Blyth, England
Date of death 27 February 1979(1979-02-27) (aged 76)
Place of death Middlesbrough, England
Height 5 ft 8+12 in (1.74 m)
Position(s) Left back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1924–1925 Blyth Spartans ? (?)
1925–1928 Middlesbrough 0 (0)
1928–1929 Southport 18 (0)
1929–1932 Nelson 76 (0)
1932–1933 Northampton Town 13 (0)
1933–1935 Hartlepools United 58 (0)
1935–1936 Tranmere Rovers 0 (0)
Total 165 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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One of ten children of a former Blyth Spartans footballer (also William Shaw Fairhurst), William Shaw "Billy" Fairhurst was a sturdy left-back. He played in the North Eastern League during his three seasons with Middlesbrough, before moving to Southport, making his full league debut in 1928.

In 1929, he moved from Southport to play for Nelson. When Nelson dropped out of the League, he stayed on for a season in the Lancashire Combination whilst working as a local dairyman. Nelson's manager, English, who signed him for Nelson, also signed him for Northampton Town. His football career ended after a spell with Hartlepools United owing to an ulcerated leg.

Life after football

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Billy served in the Durham Light Infantry during the war and was one of the first (liberators) into Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp.

After the war he settled with his wife, Mary (née Windross), in Middlesbrough. They had two children; Dorothy Mary and Eric William. Billy worked for many years at ICI (Billingham). He died of a heart attack, aged 76.

References

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  • Dykes, Garth (2009). Nelson FC in the Football League. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-905891-29-0.
  • Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888–1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 86. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
  • Wilde, Geoff; Braham, Michael (1995). Sandgrounders : the complete league history of Southport Football Club. Carnegie. ISBN 1-874181-14-4. OCLC 650188009.